Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-04-28


every way pleasantly located. Here tents
were put up, huts built by some, and about
two weeks of beautiful November weather
spent most pleasantly.
A line OF guards encircled tho camp at
night to break the men in and enforce dis
cipline as much as any thing, perhaps On
this duty enc of tho men accidentally dis
charged his piece and tho bullet passed
through his foot. This was the first gun
shot wound in the history OF the regiment
Upon leaving the barracks at Camp But
Ter each company broke up into ntesses COM
poseA of from eight to fifteen men who
drew their rations i'll common and did
their cooking together.
Nearly every day the regiment went
out on dress parGde-a term that to tho non
military reader needs explanation.
TO participate in this, each man, before
falling in ranks, was required to have his
uniform in good order, his accouterments
in neat trim, his gun and metallic append
ages BRIGHTEN the regiment in line
marched to some convenient level, open
space, and went through the manual Of
arms, and, so to speak, displayed itself to
the very best advantage.
One day the regiment selected for its
place Of parade an open space near public
it was drawn up. Some military exercises
had just been gone through and the men
were standing easily at parade rest, when
turnout passed along the road within a
few feet of them that was new to North
ern eyes, but afterwards frequently seen
in the South during war-times.
An old dilapidated family carriage that
looked as though it might have seen serv-
ice since the Revolutionary period, drawn
by large, dark colored, raw-boned horse,
only a skeleton in fact, and little old,
mouse-eo.ored. donkey; upon these were
shreds of old harness attached to which
were some shabby oil relics of silver
mounting. Mounted on the box with rope
lines in his hands was an old gray haired
darby, who sat upright and dignifed, an
old and very high plug hat on his head and
his person attired in tho antiquated re
mains of a coachman's livery. Within the
carriage was q man and woman.
The whole outfit was 50 ridiculous to
Northern eyes that hearty laugh went
along the line followed by a shout that was
I participated in by q thousand voices.
Isl At this period but few negroes lived in
I rural sections of the North, and most OF
these had comparatively regular features,
/ but it was soon observed that very many
/ of their brethren of the South had reccd-
/ ing foreheads, immense mouths, exceed.
ingly thick lips and fat, shapeless noses.
/ After remaining about two weeks in
camp, orders came one day to occupy Fort
1 Pickering, just below the city.
/ Like nearly all localities for any tina
/ occupied by troops, unless extraordinary
+ precautions are taken, this post was filthy
/ and repulsive in the extreme
/ Meantime snow fell, cold weather came
7 on, and some most unpleasant days were
i passed, and, to make matters worse, the
health OF many began to fail
! The writer, with his mess numbering
about eight persons, occupied q Sibley
+ tent not far from the river bank
i A Sibley tent is round at the base, hay
ing in its middle a center pole towards
! which the canvas slopes from every al.
rection, forming perfect cone
4 The location OF this tent on the high bluff
next the river gave the wind fun sweep.
and the swaying of the canvas and Tapping
OF the ropes was any thing unpleasant, es.
pecially at night.
Fort Pickering was at this period sur.
rounded by earthworl1s with cannon all
along at proper Intervals At the date of
occupancy the works were constantly being
strengthened ~ the use of the spade and
shovel. Most of this work was done by ne.
groes, who were fed ard paid by the Gov
eminent.
After time came an order for the regi
ment to do patrol duty in the city This
necessitated the breaking Up Of the regi.
ment into squads, who for the time found
quarters and did duty in various parts
Of the city.
The company to which the writer be-
longed found quarters in a large brick
block not fer from the river. In this build